Autonomous Aquaculture Platform Depth Control for Light-Nutrient Cycling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aquaculture systems face limitations in depth and accessibility, leading to suboptimal growing conditions for marine life due to static platforms and reliance on near-shore locations, which result in nutrient deficiencies and vulnerability to environmental stressors.
Innovation Solution
An autonomous or semi-autonomous growth platform that navigates and adjusts depth to optimize light and nutrient exposure for marine life, utilizing a propulsion system to traverse currents and adjust positioning based on sensor data and control algorithms, allowing for dynamic vertical positioning and nutrient uptake.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If aquaculture systems are moored or anchored to the sea floor, then they provide stable support for marine life, but they are limited to near-shore locations and cannot access nutrient-rich open ocean regions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the static moored platform into a dynamic autonomous vehicle that can actively navigate and reposition itself. The platform uses propulsion systems to move between near-shore and open ocean locations, adapting its position based on nutrient availability, light conditions, and growth requirements of the marine life cargo.
Solution Approach 2:
The autonomous platform performs self-navigation and self-positioning without requiring external towing or anchoring operations. It uses onboard sensors, control algorithms, and propulsion systems to autonomously navigate to optimal growing locations and return for harvesting, eliminating the need for human intervention in positioning operations.
2Productivity
If the platform is raised to capture sunlight for photosynthesis, then seaweed growth is enhanced, but the seaweed becomes exposed to storm and wave action
Solution Approach 1:
The platform implements dynamic vertical positioning, continuously adjusting the depth of the seaweed cargo based on real-time conditions. During calm periods, the platform raises the seaweed to optimize light capture for photosynthesis. During storms or high-wave conditions, the platform automatically lowers the seaweed to protective depths, thereby mitigating mechanical damage while maintaining productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses sensors to monitor wave height, current strength, and other environmental parameters in real-time. This feedback information is fed to control algorithms that determine the optimal depth positioning, dynamically adjusting the platform's vertical position to balance light exposure needs with protection from harmful environmental factors.
3Quantity of substance
If the platform is lowered to capture nutrients from deeper waters, then nutrient uptake is improved, but light availability for photosynthesis is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The platform implements periodic vertical cycling, alternately raising and lowering the seaweed cargo in a rhythmic pattern. During the upward phase, the seaweed captures sunlight for photosynthesis. During the downward phase, it accesses nutrient-rich deeper waters. This periodic cycling allows the system to sequentially obtain both light and nutrients, optimizing overall growth through temporal separation of these two requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the depth positioning based on the relative availability of light and nutrients. When surface light is abundant, the platform positions the seaweed higher. When nutrient levels in surface waters are low, the platform lowers the seaweed to access deeper nutrient reservoirs. This dynamic positioning optimizes the balance between light capture and nutrient uptake.
4Ease of operation
If manual methods are used for cultivation, then labor can be directly applied, but the system is restricted to near-shore waters and cannot expand to open ocean regions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical operations with autonomous robotic systems. The platform uses automated propulsion, navigation, and cargo handling systems to perform tasks that would otherwise require human divers or boats. This substitution of human labor with autonomous mechanical systems enables operation in remote open ocean locations that are inaccessible to manual cultivation methods.
Solution Approach 2:
The autonomous platform performs all cultivation operations independently, including navigation to growing locations, depth adjustment for optimal conditions, monitoring of cargo health, and return for harvesting. This self-service capability eliminates the need for human operators to physically travel to the cultivation sites, thereby enabling deployment in remote open ocean regions far from shore.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enhances biomass productivity, reduces labor requirements, and enables the growth of marine life in nutrient-rich open ocean regions, improving the chemical composition of seaweed and reducing exposure to adverse environmental conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a propulsion system to traverse currents, steer to certain locations, and adjust the depth of the platform
Implementation Method 2
a platform structure on which marine life grows
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and computer-readable media that implement an autonomous or semi-autonomous growth platform used to control live cargo exposures to environmental parameters by changing depth in an offshore environment. For example, the growth platform can be lowered at night so that farmed seaweed can perform luxury uptake of nutrients and raised during the daytime so that the farmed seaweed can capture sunlight.